Display device



p 1935, I w. w. NARAMORE 2,013,286

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed March'2, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l J; I 74a :L/en

Ennentor (Ittomeg Sept. 3, 1935. w. w. NARAMORE DISPLAY DEVICE Filed March 2, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZSnnentor m 1Q} Gttorneg Patented Sept. 3, 1935 NET ATEN'E' FFICE DISPLAY DEVICE William W. Naramore, Bridgeport, Conn.

relates to improvements in admachines or devices. of the present invention to projamming even though the two series moves over the path of each other. All of this is accomplished with a comparatively simple mechanism.

aeration of the hereinbefore described main display supports which travel in a sinuously circular path. In some aspects of the present inand as shown, auxiliary display supports may be provided which may be rotated conjointly with the sinuously central work table.

Other objects and appear.

In the drawings- Figure l is a side elevation of the display device of the present invention with sections broken away to more clearly show the operating mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail view, partly in section, of the central table and the driving shaft therefor.

Fig. 3 is a. side view of an auxiliary type of central display table.

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of shown in Fig. 3.

advantages will hereinafter the display member 1932, Serial No. 596,269 (01. 211-1.5)

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the display device of the present invention, taken on line 55 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view similar to Fig. 5, but with the articlesupports removed and with the particularly noted. In its present preferred form it comprises an outer rim plate 2|, which is plate It, is The outer rim plate 2! is provided with a plurality of concave tracks 25 guideways 29 and 39, respectively.

Between these tracks there is provided a plurality of quoits 3i, slightly irregular in shape with convex tracks 32 and 33 which, in general, follow the outline of the concave tracks 25 and through and through spacing sleeves 35 which plate I l, when the bolts are tightened in the bottom plate.

Thus, it will be seen that When the outer and inner rim plates 2| and Z2 and the quoits 3| are fastened to the bottom plate Hi there is provided two guideways 29 and 30 which pass in a sinuousthe axis of the machine, each guideway passing inwardly and then out- 2 wardly over the other guideway a number of times.

These guideways 29 and 33 are, according to the present invention, used to guide two sets 36 and 31 of the main display supports 38 in a sinuously circular path about the axis of the machine in such manner that the supports weave in and out between each other in a manner intended to attract the attention of passers-by. The supports each comprise an elongated guide shoe 33 of the same width as the guideways, with an upper flange All adapted to overly the concave and convex tracks defining the guideways and limit downward movement of the carrier and to prevent tilting. If desired, each support may also be provided with a lower flange 4i adapted to extend over the underside of the concave and convex tracks. At its upper end the main supports are 32 which may be made integral therewith or may, as shown, he made as a separate disk having a removable connection 43 thereto.

One set of display supports 38, those traveling in the clockwise direction, see Fig. 5, are assembled to the guideway 30 by sliding them through a dovetail slot 44 in the outer rim plate 2i and after the desired quantity are added a plate 45 is forced into the dovetail slot. The second set 3i of display supports 38 which travel in a counterclockwise direction as shown in Fig. 5 are assembled to the guideway 29 through a dovetail slot 36 cut in the inner rim 22, after which a plate 4'! is forced in the dovetail, as shown in Fig. 6, to close the guideway and prevent accidental removal of the display supports.

Projecting below the shoes 39 of the supports 38 are lugs or horns 48 adapted to slide into radial slots 4-9 and be engaged by radial arms 53 on the flanges 5i and 52 of horn gears 53 which are arranged beneath the quoits 3|. Referring to Figs. 1 and 6, the horn gears 53 are journaled on the spacing sleeves 35 and the latter serve as bearings therefor after they are held in place with the bolts 34, as hereinbefore described, while the gears form a circular train arranged with their teeth intermeshing in such manner that alternate gears are driven in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows in Figs. 6 and 7. Each of the gears is provided with four radially projecting arms 53 and slots 49. The arms on alternate gears are on different planes which, as may best be seen in Figs. 1, 6 and '7, comprising the low arms on the gears with low flanges 5| and high arms on the gears with high flanges 52 so that they will not interfere with each other during rotation. I a The radial arms engage with the horns 48 and serve to propel the set 33 of main display supports 38 in a clockwise direction and propel the other set 3i of supports in a counterclockwise direction. A driver gear 55 which may have any suitable connection with a prime mover 56 rotates the meshing horn gear 53 in a clockwise direction and the latter gear in turn rotates all of the gears in the train in clockwise and counterclockwise direction as shown by the arrows in Figs. 6 and '7.

Operation of'this part of the advertising display machine is as follows. As the horn gears 53 are rotated in clockwise and counterclockwise direction the radial slots 33 therein'move into a position directly above each other at the point of intersection of the guideways 29 and 30, as is best shown at 5? in Fig. '7. At this point of intersection the horn gears and in particular the provided with article tables radial arms 53 carried thereby have the characteristic of engaging the main display supports 38 in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions dependent upon which of the two guideways 23 or 30 the display support is in, e. g. if the horn 18a shown in Fig. 7 is a part of one of the display supports 38 in the guide 3B the guide shoe 39 portion thereof would be positioned like the shoe 39a shown by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 8 and since it cannot turn into the guideway 23 at this point the lower radial arms part of the low flange gear in Fig. 7 moving in a counterclockwise direction will engage the horn to carry it in a generally clockwise direction through the slot 30. However, if the horn 38a is for a display support in the guideway 29 and projects in the direction indicated by the shoe 3% in Fig. 8 it cannot move into the guideway 33 and consequently the upper radial gear 53 with a high flange 52 engages the horn and serves to move it in a generally counterclockwise direction in the other guideway 23.

Because the gears 53 all contain the same number of teeth it is possible relationship between the radial arms 5!] and there is no danger of one set of radial arms moving one display support 33 into the path of another. As the horn gears alternately move one display support 38 inwardly toward the axis of the machine in a clockwise direction in the guideway 33 and then the next succeeding support outwardly relative to the axis in a counterclockwise direction in the guideway 29 and as the same display supports are moved in reverse direction relative to the axis when they reach the next point of intersection there is produced a fascinating effect which attracts and holds the interest of any person viewing the machine.

The driving mechanism 53 in the present preferred form of the invention, comprises a speed reducing mechanism 39 having a suitable connection 60 with an electric motor 56 or other prime mover. The speed reducing mechanism preferably comprises a one piece to the bottom pla e 54 with screws 32 which supports the horizontal shaft 33 and vertical shaft 64 journaled in' standards 55 and 93 respectively. It is merely necessary to slide a worm Bl between the standards 65 past the shaft 63 therethrough and then look the shaft against longitudinal dis placement by tightening a set screw 68 in the worm gear. A cooperating gear 59 is passed between bracket standards 66 and into engagement with the worm fi'l whereupon the shaft 34 is moved vertically into place as shown in Fig. 1 and the gear fastened thereto with a set screw 13. At the same time a driving pulley H and the driver gear 55 are similarly assembled and connected to the shaft 64 withscrews 12 and '53 respectively.

As the connection 3 3 is driven by the prime mover 56 the shaft 63 rotates the worm 6'! which in turn through its connection 30 with the gear 39 rotates the shaft fi l, pulley H and driver gear 55, and the latter through its connection withone of the horn gears 53 rotates the entire train of horn gears to drive the display supports 38 through the guideways 23 and 33 in opposite directions and in spaced relation in the manner hereinbefore described.

7 If preferred, only a guideway 29 or 33 and a single series 33 or 3! of display supports 38 may be used in which event there will be a uni-directional travel of the set of display supports in a sinuously circular path. However, a more fascithe horns 48 and moving 5| on the horn arms portion of the clockwise moving tomaintain a constant bracket 6| attached,

2,013,286 nating effect, and one which is certain to attract greater attention is accomplished by providing the two sets 36 and 3'! and driving them in opposite directions and across the path of each other.

The present invention also provides a novel central display member it which may be rotated conjointly with the main display supports 38, preferably continuously in one direction, and as shown the machine is arranged to support different styles of central display members. As shown in Fig. 1 the central display members 74 is provided with two tables 75 and 76 for supporting various articles of mechandise and as shown in Figs. 4 and an auxiliary central display member (4a is provided with a small top table 17 and six angularly disposed side tables 18 upon which various articles of merchandise may be attached. Other forms of central display members may be provided.

The mechanism for supporting and rotating the central display members J4 and 14a comprises a bracket '59 fixed to the underside of the bottom plate M with bolts 89. A central spindle 82 is suitably journaled in bracket standards 8| and in the lower plate it so as to carry a lower pulley 83 and an upper pulley 84 which are fixed thereon against rotation with set screws 85 and 86 respectively. The upper end of the spindle is adapted to slide into a suitable socket 81 in the lower end of the central display members 14 and Ma and is provided with a stop collar 88 which a driving dog to insure rotation of the central display member conjointly with the spindle. Preferably, the spindle 82 is arranged to extend upwardly into the socket 87 a considerable extent to thereby lessen the possibility of the central display member tilting. A belt Si is assembled upon the pulleys 7! and 84 to effect rotation of the central spindle 82 conjointly with the rotation of the vertical shaft of the driver mechanism.

Thus, it is possible to place articles of merchandise which would be too large for the weaving display supports 38 on the tables 15 and 76 of the central display member 74 or on tables 17 and E8 of the central member Ma and thereby display them with a certain amount of animation. Also, it is possible for a window dresser or store worker to prepare one auxiliary central carrier, for instance, the carrier I la shown in Figs. 4 and 5, during spare moments without tying-up the advertising display device, and easily and quickly change from one form of central carrier to another by sliding one oil and the other one on the central spindle. Similarly, an auxiliary set of article tables 52 portion of the display supports 38 may be provided so that they may be loaded during spare moments without tying-up the machine, and when they have been prepared merely remove the working set from the machine and add the newly prepared set as permitted by the removable connection 43.

The entire frame it! and driving mechanism may be easily and quickly enclosed by a cover 92 which is made in the form of a box with an open bottom and provided with cleats 93 on the side walls adapted to engage with the base H to limit vertical movement of the box. It is otherwise located by the base H fitting within the four side walls of the box. It may be provided with a large circular cut-out as indicated by the dotted line 94 in Fig. 5 so that it may be put in place after the article tables 42 of the display supports 38 are assemble or it may be provided with a cutout 95 conforming with the concave tracks 25 and points 26 of the top plate to provide a more complete closure of the top of the device.

Special lighting effects are also provided by the present invention which add to the attractiveness and attention centering qualities of the device. In its present preferred form this is acclarnping a pair of yielding conon a fibre sleeve 98 with screws 99, all of which in turn are fastened to the lower plate M with a screw I09 and nut I ill and by providing a pair of rotatable contacts I92 and H33 on a fibre sleeve HM portion of the central display member 74 which engage with the yielding contacts. A pair of feed wires I95 and IE6 having a connection with any suitable source of current are connected to the yielding contacts 96 and 91 respectively and other wires I07 and I08 are connected to the rotatable contacts I02 and H39 respectively and pass upwardly in the central member 14 through a wire clearance hole l99 for suitable connection to lower lamps HG mounted on the underside of the table 75 and connection to an upper lamp Ill within a shade H2 shown in Fig. 1.

When the central member the spindle 82 the rotatable align with and engage the stationary contacts 96 feed wires I95 and IE6, stationary contacts 95 and 97, thence through rotatable contacts I92 and H33, and wires I91 and H38 respectively to provide current for the lamps H9 and HI even though the central display member 74 rotates. If preferred, the rotatable contacts may be notched slightly or provided with raised fibre plugs l l3 so that engagement with the stationary contacts 96 and 97 will be intermittent and thereby cause the lamps to be intermittently furnished with current, causing them to flash on and oil. Any suitable switch may be provided in the feed line 695 and IE5 so that no current will be passed to the lamps in the event that it is preferred not to use the lighting arrangement just described, or to disconnect lamps during the daytime when no artificial lights are required.

If desired, auxiliary display supports H4 may be provided to add further to the effectiveness of the advertising display device of the present invention. In the present preferred form these auxiliary display supports have a removable connection H5 with vertical shafts H6 which are suitably journaled in an upper standard H1 portion of the frame l0 and a lower standard l8 mounted on the base H. Between these standards there is provided pulleys H9 and I29 having a set screw connection with the shaft H8 to limit vertical movement of the latter. A pair of belts |2l extend from the central shaft pulley 83 to the auxiliary shaft pulleys H9 and I20 and serve to rotate the latter conjointly with the rotation of the central shaft 82. This arrangement is such that the auxiliary supports H4 rotate continuously in one direction while the main display supports 38 are moved in a sinuously circular path, and are driven by the same prime mover.

It will be understood that portions of the device may be used without others, e. g., either one or two sets of main display supports 38, the auxiliary display supports H4, or the central display member 14 may be used; however, it is 74 is assembled to 38 which travel in a sinuously circular path together with the central display member, and in some instances also use the auxiliary display supports H4.

Other variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new. and for which it is desired to obtain Letters Patent, is:--

1. In a merchandise display device, aboX having a platform provided with a sinuously circular guideway; a series of table-like merchandise display supports adapted to move in said sinuous guideway; and a plurality of rotatable drivers supported with the box under said sinuous guideway and provided with radiating arms which are adapted to engage with the display supports and push them along in the sinuous guideway.

2. In a merchandise display device, a box having a platform having two sinuously circular guideways; two series of table-like merchandise display supports, each series being located in and guided by one of the sinuous guideways; and a plurality of rotatable drivers supported with the box under the sinuous guideways and provided with radiating arms adapted to engage display supports of the two series and move each of the latter through its respective guideway, one series in the opposite direction to that of the other.

3. In a merchandise display device, a box having a platform having two concentric superposed sinuously circular guideways arcuately offset so that their paths intersect each other; two series of table-like merchandise display supports located in said guideways; and a plurality of rotatable drivers spaced on a circular line defined by the intersecting points of the sinuous guideways, said drivers each being adapted to engage the display supports at the point where the sinuous paths intersect and move the display supports of one series in a clockwise direction and those of the other series in a counterclockwise direction through their respective guideways from the points of intersection to adjacent points of intersection.

4. In a merchandise display device, a box having a platform having two concentric superposed sinuously circular guideways arcuately offset so that their paths intersect each other; two series of table-like merchandise display supports located in said guideways; a plurality of rotatable drivers spaced on a circular line defined by the intersecting points of the sinuous guideways, said drivers each being adapted to engage the display supports at the point where the sinuous paths intersect and move the display supports of one series in a clockwise direction and those of the other series in a counterclockwise direction through their respective guideways from the points of intersection to adjacent points of intersection; and means for moving alternate drivers in opposite directions of rotation whereby the paths of the two series of display supports repeatedly cross as the supports are advanced, said table-like display supports being of such size with relation to the guideways that the tables appear to barely pass each other in their movement around the guideways. 5. In a merchandise display device, a box having a platform provided with two sinuously circular guideways; two series of table-like merchandise display supports,'each series adapted to move in one of said sinuous guideways; a plurality of intermeshing rotatable gears; a prime mover having a connection with one of said gears,

and through the intermeshing arrangement driving all of the gears; and arms on said rotatable gears adapted to engage said display supports and push them through said guideways.

6. In a merchandise display device, a box having a platform having two concentric superposed sinuously circular guideways arcuately off- 7 set so that their paths intersect each other; two series of table-like merchandise display supports located in said guideways; and a plurality of rotatable drivers spaced on a circular line defined by the intersecting points of the sinuous guideways, said drivers each being adapted to engage the display supports t the point where the sinuous paths intersect and move the display supports of one series in a clockwise direction and those of the other series ina counterclockwise direction through their respective guideways from the points of intersection to adjacent points of intersection, the driving means and the number and relative positions of the display sup- 

